Game board and method of play

ABSTRACT

A game board including a substantially rigid pair of panels each adapted for play, each of the panels defined by an outer surface, a top edge and a bottom edge, the top edges hinged together for pivoting, wherein the bottom edges are adapted to form a self-supporting means to allow the pair of panels to stand upright during play, a plurality of pegs adapted to be placed on the outer surface of the pair of panels, and a plurality of game pieces having a front surface with printed indicia, wherein the game pieces form apertures therethrough for receiving the pegs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to the field of game boards. Moreparticularly, the invention pertains to a game board for educationalpurposes to be used by a large number of students at a time.

[0003] 2. Description of The Prior Art

[0004] Many different kinds of educational games are being played bystudents in the classrooms today. Some of those games include specificgame devices, such as game boards which are mostly used in grade schoolsbecause of the need among young students for visual perception as anextra learning tool.

[0005] Certain of the game devices include game boards. Game pieces orplay cards may be used with the game boards by attaching them in acertain way and, according to the rules of the game, onto the surface ofthe game board. Prior art game boards include very limited surface areasupon which to play allowing only a small number of students toparticipate, precluding other students from interactively playing in thegame. Prior art game boards further could be bulky, take up a lot ofspace when stored, and some could be complicated and uneconomical tomanufacture.

[0006] A patent issued to Kaufman in 1924 (U.S. Pat. No. 1,491,536)discloses a board game with cards, where the cards, each divided into anequal number of squares on the face of the cards, are placed over a pegand held in a box for use by people who want to learn a foreignlanguage. In 1959, a patent issued to Bobo et al. (U.S. Pat. No.2,887,789) for a game board on which a number of upwardly directed pegsin different patterns are placed and the cards, each having a specialarrangement of holes, fit only one of the arrangements of pegs on theboard. In 1968, a patent issued to Holten (U.S. Pat. No. 3,394,471) isfor a game board to be placed on a flat surface, with players spacedaround the table, the cards having a slot through which a player mayview certain foreign language words arranged for placement on certainareas on the game board to teach a foreign language. A patent issued toSenn in 1976 (U.S. Pat. No. 3,970,312), describes a game involving twopanels held in an upright and face-to-face relation and having pegspushed through holes formed therein over which cards with indicia areplaced in an attempt to line up the holes in the cards with pegs thatare placed in the holes. A patent, issued to DeMent in 1978 (U.S. Pat.No. 4,111,418) concerns a peg board apparatus with multiple panels thatare supported on legs, on which are hung a plurality of toe tabs thatare maneuvered by a player's toes. In 1990, a patent issued to Canela(U.S. Pat No. 4,944,519) describes a game board about which the playerssit and match cards with blocks or spaces that are outlined on theboard. None of these patents include a game board where more than onegame can be played at the same time so as to accommodate a large numberof players.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] This invention is a rigid, self-supporting game board used forplaying educational games by younger students and overcomes the problemsset forth above with regard to the prior art game boards. This inventivegame board is useful in classrooms where there are a large number ofstudents to play. The game board includes two rigid self-supportingpanels which have top edges that are hinged together, and bottom edgeswhich are adapted to form self-supporting means to allow the panels tostand upright during a game. The panels include a plurality of openingsand Z-shaped hooks on the outer surface that are hooked through theopenings in the panels. A game is played using play cards havingapertures and front surfaces onto which educational information isprinted. The educational information is matched in pairs wherein one ofthe matching play cards in the pair includes complementing informationof the other of the matching play cards in the pair. The educationalinformation may include various different kinds of subject matter. Theinvention lies in the ability to use both the panels at the same time intwo different games in order to have more students playing the game atonce so as to save time.

[0008] The game board of this invention does not take up a lot of spaceduring storage because it can be folded together closely and storedunderneath or behind a table or closet.

[0009] The game board of this invention is of simple construction, andis inexpensive to manufacture and maintain while retaining itseffectiveness. The game is unlimited in scope as to subject matter orcomplexity because play cards can easily be made on an as-needed basisto cover specific topics as it comes up in the class curriculum, i.e.,science, geography, math, languages, or other topics.

[0010] Accordingly, the main object of this invention is a game boardthat is able to facilitate two different games on both panels at thesame time to allow a large number of students to play and learn at once.Other objects of the invention are a game board that takes up a verysmall space for storage, that is inexpensive to manufacture andmaintain, and that is unlimited in scope in subject matter and incomplexity.

[0011] These and other objects of the invention will become moreapparent when reading the description of the preferred embodiment alongwith the drawings that are appended hereto. The protection sought by theinventor may be gleaned from a fair reading of the claims that concludethe specification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the inventive game boardconstructed according to the teachings of this invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the game board of this inventionshowing the bottom edges and the self-supporting means of the panels;

[0014]FIG. 3 is a side view of one of the two panels of the game boardof this invention showing a Z-shaped hook which is placed through theopenings in the panel and which has an attaching play card hangingtherefrom through an aperture in the play card;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a top view of the inventive game board showing the topedges which are hinged together with a pivotable means;

[0016]FIG. 5 is a front view of matching play cards;

[0017]FIG. 6 is a side view of the inventive game board in A-frameposition for play; and, FIG. 7 is a side view of the game board in aclosed position for storage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] Turning now to the drawings where elements or limitations areidentified with numbers and like elements or limitations are identifiedwith like numbers throughout the 7 figures, the preferred embodiment ofthe invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and shows a game board 1 whichis used to educate and teach young students. Game board 1 comprises tworigid, self-supporting panels 3 and 4, preferably flat, each of whichincludes top edges 5 that are hinged together with a pivotal means 7,such as a piano hinge, for pivoting as shown in FIG. 4, bottom edges 9which are adapted to form self-supporting means 11 to allow panels 3 and4 to stand in an A-frame configuration during play, and outer surfaces13. Panels 3 and 4 include a plurality of openings 15 and Z-shaped hooks17 that are hooked through openings 15 on the outer surface 13 of panels3 and 4, as shown in FIG. 3. A game is played using play cards 19 whichinclude apertures 20 and front surfaces 21. Front surfaces 21 includeprinted educational information which is matched in pairs 23 wherein onematching play card 19 in pair 23 includes complementing information ofthe other matching play card 19 in pair 23. The educational informationmay include various different subject matter.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, panels 3 and 4 are usually the same insize and are rectangular in shape, and can pivot together for storagewhen the game is not played or pivot outward to an angle of between 10degrees and 90 degrees in an A-frame position during play.

[0020] Any even number of play cards may be used during a game dependingupon the complexity of the game. Play cards 19 are placed on hooks 17through apertures 20. Hooks 17 can be removed or can be affixed topanels 3 and 4. Panels 3 and 4 may have a restraining means 27 with afirst terminal end 29 and a second terminal end 31, such as a chain 30,of a length to permit panels 3 and 4 to be opened into an A-frameconfiguration and whose terminal ends 29 and 31 are attached, one toeach panel 3 and 4.

[0021] The game is designed to be played by numerous students at a timeand the goal is to match a pair of play cards 19. The students gather intwo groups in front of each of panels 3 and 4 where panels 3 and 4include play cards 19 that are randomly stacked face-down. A firststudent at panels 3 and 4, respectively, chooses and overturns two playcards and decides if the two play cards match. If the picked play cardsmatch and the student recognizes that the cards match, the studentremoves matched pair 23 from panels 3 and 4 and continues to play thegame. If the picked play cards do not match, the student replaces theplay cards face down in the same spaces on panel 3 and 4 and the studentis still in the game. A second student then chooses and overturns one ofthe play cards that has not yet been overturned, or alternatively, usinghis or her memory of which play cards have already been overturned,picks at least one of the play cards that has already been overturned tomatch two complementing play cards. The game can be played individuallyor in groups. There is no limit to the number of players.

[0022] While the invention has been described with reference to aparticular embodiment thereof, those skilled in the art will be able tomake various modifications to the described embodiment of the inventionwithout departing from the true spirit and scope thereof. It is intendedthat all combinations of elements and steps which perform substantiallythe same function in substantially the same way to achieve substantiallythe same result are within the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A game board, comprising: a. a substantiallyrigid pair of panels each adapted for play, each of said panels definedby an outer surface, a top edge and a bottom edge, said top edges hingedtogether for pivoting; wherein said bottom edges are adapted to form aself-supporting means to allow said pair of panels to stand uprightduring play; b. a plurality of pegs adapted to be placed on said outersurface of said pair of panels; and, c. a plurality of game pieceshaving a front surface with printed indicia, wherein said game piecesform apertures therethrough for receiving said pegs.
 2. The game boardof claim 1 wherein said pair of panels is similar in size.
 3. The gameboard of claim 1 wherein said pair of panels pivot outward to an angleof less than 90 degrees into an A-frame configuration for play, saidpanels include a restraining means having a first and second terminalend, each attached to each of said panels for restraining said panelsfrom opening beyond 90 degrees.
 4. The game board of claim 1 whereinsaid panels pivot together for storage.
 5. The game board of claim 1wherein said panels are rectangular.
 6. The game board of claim 1wherein said printed indicia on said game pieces is matched in pairswherein one of said matching game pieces in a pair includescomplementing information on the other matching game piece in said pair.7. The game board of claim 1 wherein said printed indicia includeseducational information.
 8. The game board of claim 1 wherein said gamepieces include play cards.
 9. An educational game board, comprising: a.first and second rigid, preferably flat panels, each of said panelsadapted for play, and defined by an outer surface and an outerperiphery, including self-supporting means to allow said panels to standin an A-frame position for play and a pivotal means for pivoting; aplurality of hooks; said panels forming a plurality of openingstherethrough for receiving said hooks on said outer surface of saidpanels; and, b. a plurality of play cards having a front surface withprinted educational information, wherein said play cards have aperturesformed therethrough for receiving said hooks.
 10. The educational gameboard of claim 9 wherein said panels are similar in size.
 11. The gameboard of claim 9 wherein said pair of panels pivot outward to an angleof less than 90 degrees into an A-frame configuration for play, saidpanels include a restraining means having a first and second terminalend, each attached to each of said panels for restraining said panelsfrom opening beyond 90 degrees.
 12. The game board of claim 1 whereinsaid panels pivot together for storage.
 13. The educational game boardof claim 9 wherein said panels are rectangular.
 14. The educational gameboard of claim 9 wherein said hooks are Z-shaped.
 15. The educationalgame board of claim 9 wherein said printed educational information ofsaid play cards is matched in pairs, wherein one of said matching playcards includes complementing information of the other of matching playcard in said pair.
 16. The game board of claim 9 wherein said hooks areremovable.
 17. The game board of claim 9 wherein said hooks are fixed tosaid panels.
 18. A method of playing a board game by at least twoplayers comprising the steps of: a. providing a pair of attached,self-supporting, open-pivoting panels with outwardly projecting pegs andgame pieces matched in complementing pairs, having peg receivingapertures, and randomly stacked, face-down, on each of said game panels;b. choosing and overturning a pair of game pieces and deciding whethersaid game pieces are complementing, removing said complementing pair ofgame pieces from said panel, replacing the noncomplementing pair of gamepieces face-down in original spaces, and ceasing play of the game uponthe correct determining of whether the pair matches; and, c. overturningany one of said game pieces and further overturning another of said gamepieces that has not been turned over, or alternatively, overturning atleast one game piece that a prior player already has turned over tomatch two complementing game pieces.
 19. The method set forth in claim18, including grouping students on each side of the A-frame.